Teshii and Hikari had just passed through the security gates of the amusement park – still holding hands.
Behind them, in the crowd…
Mei, Rin, and the rest of the spy squad followed closely – each one in ridiculous disguise.
Teshii glanced around, eyes darting between the towering rides and food stalls. The neon chaos of the park buzzed with noise and energy.
Uh… I just realized something…
I've never been to an amusement park before. What am I supposed to do?
He looked at Hikari, who walked beside him with a bright smile, her steps light and excited.
I can't just ask her what to do… that'd be awkward as hell.
Then–
"Teshii!"
He snapped out of his thoughts.
"Huh?"
Hikari turned to him, still beaming.
"Where do you want to go first?"
Teshii blinked.
Um… what the f@%k do I say here?!
Meanwhile, not far behind…
The girls huddled behind a cotton candy cart, watching everything like secret agents.
Mei wore oversized sunglasses, a sunhat, and a designer scarf, looking like a celebrity avoiding paparazzi as she sipped on a bubble tea.
"So far, so good," she whispered, eyes locked on the couple.
Sip.
Beside her, Rin clenched a fist.
"That Teshii guy better take care of my baby girl," she muttered through gritted teeth, wearing a bright floral shirt, a straw hat, and a camera around her neck like a tourist ready for war.
Then–
"Mommy! Aren't those people Ms. Hikari's teammates?"
The same little girl from earlier – the one who idolized Hikari – was now pointing at Mei and the others in disguise.
All of them froze.
Mei turned her head slowly and locked eyes with the child.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It's… Hikari's Number One Fan!
Mei quickly placed a finger to her lips, signalling the girl to keep quiet.
The girl blinked… the nodded with a mischievous grin and tiptoed away.
Meanwhile, as the squad scrambled to say unnoticed–
Hikari raised an eyebrow.
"Teshii?"
Teshii turned to her, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Uh…"
Damn it… I have to tell her the truth.
He let out a sheepish chuckle.
"Hikari… the truth is… this is actually my first time ever being in an amusement park. I'm… not really sure what to do."
There was a pause–
Then Hikari burst out laughing.
"Seriously?!" she giggled, wiping a tear from her eye. "You've never been to an amusement park before?"
"Y-Yeah…" Teshii replied, looking down, clearly embarrassed.
"I'm surprised!" Hikari said, still smiling. "You've never gone with your parents when you were little?"
Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind–
A few months ago, when Teshii had said:
"Just me, myself, and I."
Hikari's smile faded a little.
"Wait… I didn't mean to bring that up. I'm sorry, Teshii."
But Teshii looked up and gave her a gentle smile.
"No. It's okay, Hikari. I know you didn't mean it."
Hikari hesitated, then asked quietly,
"Then… um… have you never been to one with… you know… one of your past girlfriends?"
Teshii's eyes suddenly widened.
Girlfriend?
A flash of memory struck him–
A cheerful blonde girl smiling under the sun.
"Teshii?" Hikari tilted her head, noticing the shift in his expression.
He wasn't smiling anymore.
Did I say something hurtful again?
"Teshii… if I said something–?"
"No."
Hikari blinked.
"Huh?"
Teshii smiled again, softer this time.
"I've never been to an amusement park with a girlfriend before. Besides… I've never had a girlfriend."
Hikari stared at him.
"Is… that so?"
Teshii gently took her hand again.
"Let's go."
As the two continued walking, fingers entwined, Hikari looked up at him – concern lingering in her gaze.
Teshii's never had a girlfriend?
How does a flirtatious person like him, never have a girlfriend before?
But…
The way he said it… could he be lying?
Maybe… someone hurt him.
Cheated on him? Abused him? And how he's just hiding it…
She held his tattooed hand a little tighter.
Teshii… if that's the case…
"Teshii!" she suddenly said.
He glanced at her. "Hmm?"
"If there's something bothering you… tell me. I'll listen."
Teshii blinked.
A light blush coloured his cheeks.
But then – he smirked.
"Awwww, Hikari… that's very cute of you."
Hikari blushed deeper – her face turning an even brighter red.
Teshii chuckled, then pointed ahead.
"Also… to answer your question earlier – let's go over there."
Hikari followed his finger and smiled.
He was pointing at a mochi stall.
"You sure love your mochis, Teshii."
"Of course I do," Teshii said proudly. "But I love them even more when I'm eating them with you, my queen."
Hikari's face turned redder than a tomato.
"H-Huh?!"
Teshii grinned.
"Look at that adorable face of yours, my queen."
Unable to hold back her flustered energy, Hikari immediately wrapped her arms around Teshii's.
He blinked.
"Hikari?"
She looked up at him with a soft smile.
"Let's go."
Teshii smirked.
"Yeah."
As Teshii and Hikari made their way toward the mochi stall, still holding hands, their ever-loyal spy squad remained hot on their trail.
Me, eyes locked on the soon-to-be-couple, smirked behind her oversized sunglasses.
"Of course he takes her to a mochi stall… Teshii really loves mochi."
Behind her, Atsuko – wearing a hoodie with a baseball cap pulled low over her face – glanced sideways at Mei, a serious expression on her face.
"Um… Mei," she whispered, "can I ask you something?"
Mei looked at her. "Yeah?"
"….Is Teshii part of the Yakuza?"
The moment the word Yakuza dropped, the entire group froze.
Even the cotton candy vendor behind them blinked.
"Yakuza?!" Mio repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What made you say that, Atsuko?"
Atsuko pointed subtly toward Teshii.
"I saw tattoos on his hand."
The others immediately narrowed their gaze at Teshii's hand from afar.
And sure enough–
Tattoo lines could be seen curling up from his wrist to the back of his hand.
Kayoko – dressed in a full pink frilly idol-style outfit, complete with cat ears and heart-shaped glasses – gasped dramatically.
"You're right! He does have tattoos!"
Mio, in her regular clothes and fully diving into conspiracy mode, gasped.
"Wait – what if… Teshii forced Hikari to go on a date?!"
The group tensed.
Eyes widened. Hearts sank.
Until–
"WHAT?! NO!" Mei whisper-shouted, flailing her arms. "Teshii is not in the Yakuza!"
"Then explain the tattoos," Rin demanded, arms crossed and expression stern.
Mei exhaled sharply, visibly trying not to lose it.
"Captain… those tattoos aren't Yakuza tattoos. They're just… random doodles."
"…They are?" Mio blinked.
"Yes! They are!" Mei insisted. "Please don't go thinking Teshii's some gangster. He's a very nice person! Just… weird. In a loveable way!"
The squad glanced at each other. After a moment, Rin nodded.
"…Okay. We'll believe you, Mei."
Mei sighed in absolute relief.
"Thank you. Captain."
Then–
They continued sneaking toward the mochi stall, creeping in the shadows like a bunch of cartoon villains in mismatched disguises.
Unaware that Hikari was starting to sense something was off…
Teshii glanced at Hikari, noticing her eyes flicking around the park.
"Something wrong, my queen?"
Hikari looked up at him.
"I… just have this feeling like someone's following us."
Teshii smirked.
"It might be some fans."
Hikari smiled softly, glancing at him.
"You're right."
Then–
"Here's your mochis!"
The vendor handed them two plates, each with three beautifully crafted mochi.
Teshii's eyes gleamed at the sight.
"Thank you very much!"
As they took their plates, the two walked away from the stall, side by side, happily nibbling at the treats.
"Mmmhhh… These mochis are so good," Hikari said, chewing contentedly.
"I know, right?" Teshii grinned. "But they only taste this good because I'm eating them with you."
Hikari blushed, looking away with a soft smile.
Teshii chuckled to himself, then glanced behind them casually–
And blinked behind his crimson sunglasses.
Wait a second… Was that Mei? And Hikari's other teammates?
Sure enough, the group in badly disguised outfits was clearly trailing them – not subtly.
But they weren't the only ones catching Teshii's eyes.
Across the walkway, a group of teenage boys were openly staring – at Hikari.
"Who, look at the blonde-black haired woman…"
"She's gorgeous!"
"She's got a perfect body!"
"Wait – isn't that Hikari Nozomi?!"
"Who's that guy with her?"
Teshii smirked.
So… my queen has some fanboys, huh?
He glanced at Hikari – who was blissfully unaware – and grinned.
What if I….
Without a word, Teshii wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Hikari blinked, surprised.
"Teshii?"
Then – he leaned in, and gently kissed her on the cheek.
Her eyes widened, face instantly flushed.
The boys who had been watching froze in shock.
"No way… she's got a boyfriend!"
"That guy's good-looking… I don't stand a chance…"
"She's taken? Nooo!"
Teshii turned back to Hikari with a teasing smile.
"Sorry, Hikari. I… just wanted to do that."
He began to withdraw his arm.
But–
Hikari reached up and grabbed it, holding it in place and gently putting his arm back around her.
"Don't let go, Teshii," she said softly. "I… like your warmh."
Teshii blinked, surprised for a moment.
Then he smiled – warmly, genuinely.
"…If you say so, my queen."
"Damn! He's really smooth." Kayoko muttered from behind a snack cart, still wearing her ridiculous pink frilly outfit and heart-shaped glasses.
Mio let out a dramatic sigh, arms folded.
"I'm jealous of her…"
Atsuko raised an eyebrow from beneath her hoodie.
"…You are?"
Mio nodded.
"Yeah… I wish I had a guy who treated me like how Teshii treats Hikari."
Then–
"I APPROVE OF HIM!"
The entire group – and a few random tourists nearby – turned to look at Rin, who had just shouted loud enough to be heard across the carousel.
"…Captain?" Mei blinked.
Rin stood proudly, camera around her neck, fists on her hips. "I approve of my baby girl's relationship with Teshii."
"Oh… is that so, Captain?" Mei said, raising a teasing brow.
Rin continued confidently.
"Also… I'm pretty sure Teshii caught us."
Mei nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. He definitely saw us. But… he didn't say anything."
Mio suddenly stood up, full of purpose.
"Then that gives us even more reason to keep following them!"
Atsuko squinted. "Why exactly?"
Mio crossed her arms, chin raised like a detective.
"Because… I want to analyze more of Teshii."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "Analyze? As in…?"
Mio snapped her fingers. "Never mind that, ladies! Let's go!"
And just like that, the spy squad was on the move again – stumbling and sneaking after the couple with the grace of a chaotic girl group on a mission.
As time passed…
Teshii casually tossed a ball at the bottle-stack game.
CRASH!
All the bottles clattered to the ground in a single hit.
The booth worker blinked.
"Uh… congrats?"
He reached over and handed Teshii a huge teddy bear.
Teshii grinned.
"Thank you very much."
He turned toward Hikari and offered it to her with a proud smile.
Hikari stared at the growing mountain of prizes in her arms.
"Um… Teshii?"
Teshii tilted his head. "Hmm?"
"I think you've won too many prizes," she said, struggling to hold a stack of stuffed animals half her height.
Teshii blinked.
"O-oh. Right."
He immediately took some of the plushies from her arms.
"Well then… let me help you carry them."
The sky began to shift into hues of soft orange and purple, the sun dipping below the horizon as the amusement park lights came alive in vibrant colour.
Still side by side, the soon-to-be couple strolled through the glowing paths, arms full of prizes and hearts full of warmth.
"Teshii," Hikari asked, "where do you want to go now?"
Teshii looked up at the sky thoughtfully.
"Hmm… not sure."
Then–
Hikari suddenly pointed. "How about there?"
Teshii followed her finger–
And saw it.
A massive, glowing Ferris Wheel, spinning slowly against the sunset backdrop, each cabin lit up like a lantern in the dusk.
Teshii smiled.
"Sure. Let's go."
He reached out and gently took Hikari's hand once more, walking with her toward the Ferris Wheel.
As they approached, he looked up at the towering ride, the lights twinkling like stars.
But…
It reminds him of someone.
Hmm… I wonder how Sunshine and the others are doing in Tottori right now.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!